Oil burner



April 27, 1926. 82552 l. E. SMITH OIL BURNER Filed April 18, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet l lNvEN'roR Ira, E- Smi/th BY m Aprifl 27, 1926.

l. E. SMITH OIL BURNER Filed p l 1925 2 SheetsSheet 2 I I NVEN'i'OR Ira: .E. BY M m,

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' ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 27,- 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IRA E.- SMITH, OF STOCKTON, CALIFORNIA.

OIL BURNER.

Application filed April 1 ing had to the accompanying drawings, and

to the characters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this application.

' This invention relates to improvements in oil burners of the rotating burner plate type, in Which oil is fed onto the plate from the center thereof and then drawn centri'fugally onto the plate by reason of the rotation thereof and at the same time upwardly by means of an air fan disposed under the plate.

The present invention particularly forms an improvement over that type of burner shown in my Patent No. 1,512,247 dated October 22nd,c1924, and over my copending appli'cation, Serial No; 750,248, filed November I 17th, 1924, especially with .regard to the burner. plate unit itself.

lnfthe previous devices pure oil was fed onto the plate from the top of the tubular hub thereof and air was not mixed with the oil until the latter was thrown out from the center of the plate or hub. The result was that in duetime with the operation of the burner, the burning of thispure oil adjacent ,the' hub unmixed with air caused the formation of carbon on the hub. Thishad a tendeii? cy to choke up the outlet pass eofthe oil.

a -b from the h ub, necessitating frequent removal of the unit in order to scrape ,oif the accumulation of carbon and permit of the preper and unobstructed flow of fuelto the burner. v

The principal object of my presentiinvention therefore is to eliminate any tendency forc a-rbon to form on any part df the burner plate ,unitby constmictlng the same in such a'manner that air is mixed with the oil before it is'thrown out and distributed onto the plate. At the same time the oil is main-' tained enclosed until'it is thus distributed so that it cannot burn prior, to this opcr'ais formed intermediate its end w th an outtion.

ch further object is to construct the.'hub

of the burner plate, fromwhichthe oil is thrown onto said plate, in sucha' manner that "a distributio'nnof the oil spray will be 8, 1925. Serial No. 24,147.

duce a simple and inexpensive device and yet one which willbe exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it. is designed. 7

These objects I accomplish by means of 'such structure and relative arrangement of] parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims. v

p In the drawings similar characters ofreferencc indicate correspondingparts in the several views:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my improved burner plate unit, the plate proper being in section, showing the outline of the structure in which the unit is mounted.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary section of the burner plate unit. p I

Fig. 3 .is a topjplan View of the same with the central cap removed,

,Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation of a'burner plate unit, showing a modified form of supporting and driving means. Fig. is abottom plan view of the same.-

' Referring now-more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawings and particularly to those on Figs. 1 to 3, the numeral 1 denotes the burner plate, a eircu'- ferentially spaced slots? are out throught-he plate along the outer slope of theridges, to

allow air to pass up through the plate from below. I

e The plate is mounted on" a built up hub structure, constructed as follows: l

- Disposed axially of the plateris a tubular member 3 whose upper end is threadedto'fit into the tapped end of a sle'evefl. This sleeve wardlyr projecting disc-like member 5 which ,is provided with a plurality of openings or slots (iconcentric with the axis of said mem- .ber, and as close to the sleeve as possible.

i {h ad evenly from all around said hub. The end walls of these slots. are cut on a ice below the plate.

slope so that a fan is formed integral with said disc which, with the rotation of the latter, will cause air to be drawn up throughthe slots. A circular flange 7 projects upwardly from the rim of the disc for a certain distance, a continuous groove 8 being formed in the upper surface of the disc at the base of the flange, said groove being undercut into the inner wall of the flange as shown at 9. A plurality of radially disposed holes 10 lead from the interior of the sleeve 4 to the adjacent side of the groove 8.

The upper end of the sleeve 4 above the disc is threaded to removably fit into the hub 11 of a cap 12. The rim of the cap, which is the same size as the flange 7, is turned down toward said flange in the form of a lip 13. This'lip however does not engage said flange, the hub 11 being arranged to abut against the disc to limit the downward movement of the cap and thus leave a narrow slit 14 all around between the cap and the flange. The vertical level of this slit is so arranged as to be above the top of ridge A, but below the top of ridge B of the plate. The cap being removable the width of the slit which forms the passage for the oil to pass to the plate, may be varied to suit different conditions by replacing one cap with another having a different depth of hub relative to the depth of the lip 13. A ring or shortcylinder 15 open on. the bottom is screwed onto the lower end of the member 5 below the plate. This ring not only serves in connection with the member 5 to clamp the plate 1 therebetween, but provides a definitely outlined air intake passage to the fan slots 6. This insures that air drawn into the chamber formed between the disc and cap will be drawn from below the plate a certain distance-and not from immediately under the plate, which would open the way for the possibility, however remote, of flame being drawn through the slots 2 and up into the disc chamber.

'A horizontal fan 16 of suitable type is mounted on the sleeve 3 a certain distance A ball-bearing 17 and a driving gear 18 are also mounted on said sleeve in suitably spaced relation. These parts and the fan, as in the previous devices hereinbefore mentioned, are maintained in definite alinement with each other by spacers 19, which are clamped against said parts lwhen the sleeve 4. is screwed onto the mem- All the parts above described therefore form a single unit independent of any other part of the burner structure. The parts last above described however, and their arrangement, are fully covered in the patent above inentioned and need not be enlarged upon iere.

This burner plate unit is mounted, also as in the previous devices, in driving relation with a shaft 20 which projects up through the sleeve 3 and has a transverse slot on its upper end which engages a cross pin 21 in the upper end of the sleeve 4. This shaft is hollow and oil ispumped upvthrough the same with the rotation of the shaft and distributed therefrom through radial holes 22 which lead to the interior of the sleeve 4r above the member 3 so that oil will be then thrown by centrifugal action through the passages 10 and into the groove 8.

The structure is mounted in a vertical position in a base or casing, the upper part of which is outlined at 23, said base being surmounted by a cylindrical casing 24 which surrounds the fan and burner plate. These features however form no part of the present invention.

In operation with the rotation of the burner plate unit oil from the shaft 20 will pass through the holes 22 into the sleeve 4 and thence through the passages 10 into the groove 8 by reason of centrifugal force as above set forth. This force will also cause the oil to leave the bottom of the groove and bank up in the undercut or vertically disposed portion 9 of the groove, filling the same evenly all around.

An upward current or draft of air, induced by the fan slots 6, will then travel at considerable speed through the slit l4its only possible exitand will act on and take with it a certain amount of this banked up oil.

This is on account of the arrangement of parts of the burner. The air intake slots 6 being near the center of rotation, and the outlet slit 14 being a considerable distance therefrom, a centrifugal fan or blower structure is formed, whieh'causes the air current to pass with considerable force and speed through the outlet, due to the centrifugal action set up with the rotation of the burner and the relatively great rim-speed at the outlet compared with that in the plane of the intake opening 6.

The oil, being carried in the blower enclosure outwardly of the air intake, is also whirled around at considerable speed, and the air necessarily blowing past the oil from the intake 6 tooutlet 14, will force a certain amount of this oil through the outlet.

The oil is thus distributed through the slit and onto the plate in the form of a fine film somewhat mixed with air, the mixture being then further mingled with the greater volume of air forced up by the fan 16, and ignited by suitable means (not shown). The

operation of the fan 16 also causes an initial current of air to be passed upwardly into the ringv 15, where it is then caught and boosted by the fan slots 6.

It will be noted that the innermost row of slots 2 in the plate is a considerable distance from the member 7, said plate being solid nssadaa therebetween. This arrangement is of great assistance in enabling a low fire to be mainfire being extinguished.

tained. A low fire with this burner is obtained by slowing down the speedr of rotation of the structure. This reduces the amount of oil fed to the enclosed groove, and also of course decreases the velocity of the air and oil flow from the outlet 14. By sufficiently reducing the speed therefore, the film of oil discharged may be controlled 'as to its velocity so that it is very small and is only thrown outwardly for a short distance. The burner plate adjacent the member 7 being solid, theupward draft of air from thelower fan 16 cannot act on this film to unduly scatter it, which would result in the This would otherwise take place, owing to the ainount of oil being discharged being inatlequate to offset this scattering or dissemination above referred to.

This small film however, even though not directly acted .on by the air draft-from the fan, still is brought into contact with sufiicientzair for proper consumption. This is because owing to the level of the slit 14 through which the horizontal oil film passes relative to the level of ridge A of the plate,

an amount of air from the adjacent slots 2 can pass over said ridge under the oil film; toward the center of the plate. b

The upward moving-tendency of this air however is counterac-tedby aflayer of air above the oil film issuing horizontally'fror'n the slit 14 above said. film. The latter is therefore interposed and held between the two air layers, whichallowof an eflicicnt mixture and proper combustion being had.

When the burner is speeded up and the velocity and size of the oil film increased, said film is then acted on directly by the air passing' up through the slots 2, and a fire of increased wolumeis of course had.

By reason of the undercut groove 9, a small supply of oil is constantly maintained all around the flange 7 below the outlet slit 14, so that oil is distributed with the air evenly all around said slit. Without this. undercut feature, oil would be present in any appreciable quantity inthe disc chamher only immediately adjacent the openings 10, and distribution through the'outlet slit would therefore be correspondingly uneven."

The slots 6 being inwardly of and terminating above the level of the groove 8, the

5 oil'iii said groove will not run into and drip down through said slots when the'biirner st p The above driven by, an electric motor.

The unit however, with but few changes,

maybe arranged to be driven by waterzor other fluid powerdirectly acting on tlieunit. Such a structure is shown-in Eigs.'5 andfi.

' ,In this type of apparatus, the'burner described unit is designed to beplate 1, the hollowhub structure, and the fan 16 are substantially the same in form and arrangement relative to each other as in the type first described.

The central'sleeve 4 of the hub structure 10 is closed at its upper end however to form a seat for a centrally located ball 25, which is press-fitted into place. j This ball forms an anti-friction bearing against.which the up per end of the supporting shaft 20 rests, 76

which the entire structure may be rotated about the stationary shaft .20 as an axis, sald wheel in operation being of course enclosed in a suitable casing.

The 'hub 26 extends to the fan 16f and takes the place of the lower sleeve19 in the first described type, the fan being clamped between this hub and a sleeve 19 on the member 3 above the fan as before.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that I have 'produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention, as set forth herein.

lVhile this specification sets forth in )detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do. not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what Tclaim as new and useful and desire to secure by Letters Patent i s? 'L'An oil burner comprising a rotatable burner pl'ate,ahollow hub structure for the plate arranged to rotate therewith, means for feeding oil into the hub, the latterv having passage means to the plate whereby with the rotation of the hub oil will be :thrown onto the plate from the hub, and fan means in corporated with the hub for causing the oil to be automatically mixed with a certain amount of air while said oil is in the hub and the latter is rotating.

2. An oil burner comprisinga horizontal ly disposed and rotatable burner plategtnd' ahollow hub structure moiintedin unitary connection with the plate; said hub structure including a member havinga'tubular axial sleeve into which oil is initially fed,- said member 1 being. formed with a continuous, groove in-its-up er face betweennth sleeve being passagemeans from'the 'sleeve to said .,jgroove,-,meaii s' covering'the member to form 'an'lntemor chamber ofwh ch the'groo-ve is'a? i part-and'provldingan outlet passage from. 130

and outerfi-p erip ery of the member, -there being then mixed with the air.

3. An oil burner comprising a horizontally disposed and rotatable burner plate, and

a hollow hub structure mounted in unitary connection with the plate; said hub structure including a member having a tubular axial sleeve into which oil is initially fed, said member being formed with a continuous groove in its upper face between the sleeve and the outer periphery of the member, there being passage means from the sleeve to said groove, means covering the member to form an interior chamber of which the groove is a part and providing an outlet passage from said member above the groove, there being openings in said member leading down from said chamber inwardly of the groove to the atmosphere, and means whereby with the rotation of the plate an upward current of air will be induced through said openings and in the chamber.

4. An oil burner comprising a horizontally disposed and rotatable burner plate, and a hollow hub structure mounted in unitary connection with the plate; said hub structure including amember having a tubular axial sleeve into which oil is initially ted, said member being formed with a continuous groove in its upper face between the sleeve and the outer periphery of the member there being passage means from the sleeve to said groove, means covering the member to form an interior chamber of which the groove is a part and providing an outlet passage from said member above the groove, there being openings in said member leading down from said chamber inwardly of the groove to the atmosphere, said openings extending around said member in concentric relation therewith and the ends thereof being cut on a slant whereby to form fan like elements acting to create an upward current of air into the chamber with the rotation of the plate.

5. An oil burner comprising a horizontally disposed and rotatable burner plate, and a hollow hub structure mounted in unitary connection with the plate said hub structure including a member iaving a tubular axial sleeve into which oil is initially fed, said member being formed with a continuous groove in its upper face between the sleeve and the outer periphery of the member, there being passage means from the sleeve to said groove, means covering the member to form an interior chamber of which the groove is a part and providing an outlet passage from said member above the groove, there being openings in said member leadingdown from said chamber inwardly of the groove to the atmosphere, and fan means mounted in connection. with the plate to induce an upward current of air through said openings with the rotation of the plate.

(3. A structure as in claim 4, in which additional fan means is provided below the plate to set up an initial flow of air to the openings.

7. Av structure as in claim i, in which a ring, open on the bottom, projects downwardly from said member outwardly of the plane of the openings.

8. An oil burner comprising a horizontally disposed burner plate, and a hollow hub structure mounted in connection with the plate; said hub structure including a disc like member formed at its outer periphery with an upwardly projecting flange and having a central and upwardly projecting axial sleeve spaced from the flange and into which the oil is initially fed, said sleeve and flange forming a circular chamber with the dis(',-a cap over the disc and overhanging the top of the flange in spaced relation thereto to substantially enclose the chamber while providing an outlet therefrom in a horizontal plane, the upper face of the disc having a groove at the base or" the flange and undercut vertically into the same and there being spaced passages from the sleeve to said groove whereby with the rotation'of theplate the oil will be thrown centrifugally from the sleeve through the passage means to the undercut portion of the groove, and means for causing an upward current'of air .to be maintained in the chamber which will act on and mix with the banked up oil and force the same through the outlet.

0. An oil burner comprising a burner plate adapted to be rotated. a hollow hub structure for the plate having a horizontal outlet slit around the same, the hub having interior groove means below the slit to receive and hold oil, and having openings leading downwardly therethrough and loated inwardly of the groove means, whereby with the rotation oi the structure a draft of air will be induced through the openings to and outwardly through the slit which will act on and carry some of the oil in the groove means therewith.

10. An oil bprner comprising a rotatable burner plate, a hollow hub structure for the plate arranged to rotate therewith, means for feeding oil into the hub, the latter having passage means to the plate whereby with the rotation of the hub oil will be'thrown onto theplate from the hub, and additional passa e means to the atmosphere, and means in the hub for causing a current of air to be positively induced into the hub through said additional passage means with the rotation of the hub.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

IRA E. SMITH. 

